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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Review: Calling Invisible Women

Title: Calling Invisible WomenAuthor: Jeanne RayLength: 256 pagesPublisher: CrownGenre: FictionSource: Goodreads GiveawayMy Rating:Synopsis (from Goodreads): A mom in her early
fifties, Clover knows she no longer turns heads the way she used to, and
she's only really missed when dinner isn't on the table on time. Then
Clover wakes up one morning to discover she's invisible--truly
invisible. She panics, but when her husband and son sit down to dinner,
nothing is amiss. Even though she's been with her husband, Arthur, since
college, her condition goes unnoticed. Her friend Gilda immediately
observes that Clover is invisible, which relieves Clover
immensely--she's not losing her mind after all!--but she is crushed by
the realization that neither her husband nor her children ever truly
look at her. She was invisible even before she knew she was invisible. Clover
discovers that there are other women like her, women of a certain age
who seem to have disappeared. As she uses her invisibility to get to
know her family and her town better, Clover leads the way in helping
invisible women become recognized and appreciated no matter what their
role.

My Thoughts: What a novel! It brought forward so many points to ponder in such an open way. It was such a quick easy read that I finished it in one day! I will be thinking about it for many more.

You must go into this novel being able to give a little suspension of disbelief. Some things, no matter how you look at them just don't fit, are hard to picture. However, for me, this took nothing major away from the rest of the story. What is the definition of invisible? Is it not being seen, not being able to be seen? What can cause one to be invisible? What does one do when one is invisible? Where does a person's worth stand? In them or in the fact of their visibility? All questions brought to light in the fairly unassuming character of Clover, who could actually be many of us. This is story for any woman.

Ray even manages to bring in the subject of big pharmaceutical companies and their ethics without being overbearing. Does the end justify the means? Are there such things as acceptable casualties? Can "Invisible" people make a difference?

This is an incredibly engrossing and thought provoking read! I highly recommend that you pick it up, read it, and take a look in the mirror! Enjoy!

About Me

I am a 38yo married, retired paramedic, turned SAHM/compulsive book reader. I have three children. One grown non-reader, much to my dismay, and two pre-school age children. I enjoy reading with my children and reading to escape my children :). I wouldn't mind reading to our two cats but they seem to prefer to eat the books than to listen to them! Among my other interests are cooking, going to the theater, trying a wonderful new restaurant, travel, and crocheting the occasional afghan.